Forth Valley College’s Stirling Campus is set to welcome the installation of a new facility to help encourage and enhance digital learning and teaching among students and staff.
After a successful bid to become an Ambassador for the Fujitsu Education Ambassador Programme Scotland 2018, Fujitsu and its partners Intel, Ruckus and NetApp are investing in a new dedicated space within the college which will be designed and equipped with the latest devices to enhance the teaching and learning experience.
In addition, the College will provide equipment such as virtual reality headsets, a smartboard and desktop scanner ensuring the hub is a place to explore technology and discover its potential.
There are plans to also incorporate a Moodle Bar at the new facility and allow staff more opportunities to learn about, and experiment with, technology to enhance their teaching practice. There is also potential for community use through for example, STEM and Coding Clubs.
The College’s Learning and Quality team are leading the project and they are currently working with Fujitsu and their design team, to finalise the exciting plans. Fujitsu are aiming to create 10 new hubs in Scotland by 2019 and the overall goal is to place technology at the heart of education to enhance the learning experience. FVC will become the third college in Scotland to join the Fujitsu Ambassador Programme – with Fife (pictured) and Borders already part of the scheme.
Ash Merchant, Education Director – Fujitsu UK&I, said: “Forth Valley College is passionate about digital transformation and the role of digital in supporting its students, and we’re excited to congratulate them on becoming Fujitsu Education Ambassadors. A recent survey by Fujitsu revealed that 40% of consumers would most like to see digital advances in education, which points towards a real need to see education establishments focusing on the digital journey. Educational institutions like Forth Valley College will play a crucial role in making this happen and Fujitsu – supported by our partners Intel, NetApp and Ruckus Networks – is committed to supporting them in bringing their vision to life.”
Helen Young, FVC’s Head of Learning and Quality, said: “This is going to be a great resource for staff and students right across the college, as well as our community partners. We think everyone will enjoy using this exciting, innovative room to try out new technologies in line with our plans to build digital competency across the college. Being a Fujitsu Ambassador College will also increase opportunities to engage more digital employers with FVC.”
Pauline Barnaby, FVC’s Development and Fundraising Manager, added: “It is fantastic to have our proposal accepted and the new hub will enhance our existing digital resources, providing a new space for creativity and learning. The Ambassador Programme and this proposal fits within the aims of our Creative Learning and Technology Strategy 2017–2022, reinforcing the importance we place on how technology can enhance learning and teaching.”